the festival of colors

Is a huge event now (to say the least). Eight years ago we took Emilia and Leif and had a lovely time despite Emilia getting colors in her eyes. I think there were a couple hundred other guest who also came to celebrate the coming of Spring near a bonfire and a man singing and chanting as we all threw colors at each other. On Saturday there must have been thousands who came to the Holi Festival and I think a better name for it might be Holi Palooza or Holi Woodstock (slightly different feel this time). My photos don't really give an idea as to how crazy it was with so many people but that's because we tried to stay away from the masses and have our own little haven for the kids.

We met up with Michelle and Ryan and their beautiful children and that was definitely what made it most enjoyable for us. Llamas and peacocks and little Ocean having so much fun going up to random people and throwing colors at them were the highlights and I can't leave out little Scarlette with a tiny bit of pink dye in her ear. She was mostly protected by her daddy and her babybjorn and she was such a trooper. Dahlia wasn't so enthusiastic about the event but soon warmed up and Soren was loving his little battles with Ocean.

The Red Tent

It's no secret that I love Siddharta by Hermann Hesse and the Alchemist by Paolo Coelho, both novels with a story of a young man's journey to find the self. I had been longing to read a story with similar themes but with a female voice. As we unpacked our boxes that had been in storage for 4+ years I came across a book of mine that I'd never read and forgot I had. While we were in Glasgow my friend recommended The Red Tent by Anita Diamant (and at that point I had no memory of owning it and made a mental note to buy it). Since unpacking it and being so happy that I actually owned it I've read it. I absolutely love it. As the book was coming to an end I was moved to tears. It's so fun to finish a book but so sad that it has to end.

It's so lovely, and tragic, and inspiring and deep with femininity.

Have you read it? Did you love it too?

PS. Thanks, Carol, for the perfect gift!

Le foto and Tangerine Art

My little Soren turned 6 last week! He also received the Character Award in a school assembly this week for tolerance and acceptance. I love being his mom. Watching my little kindergartner go up to get his award was seriously the best.

Here is my little French darling.

She loves butter. I think she's inherited this from her aunt Francie. . . and sometimes I find these little bites out of it.

When she lets me do her hair I'm so happy. Sometimes she's more willing to let her DAD do her hair than she is with letting me!

I was pretty excited to catch S in this pose because he LOVED seeing what he looked like in a handstand.

Food Art: Lesson Plan by S. I was eating a tangerine a while back and it sparked great enthusiasm in my son. I had to go with it and these are our creations. Only the paper isn't eatable and we used honey for glue. Our work didn't last very long but I loved the concept. I always play it safe and do what I know I can when it comes to visual arts (hence, the flower). Soren, on the other hand, can really reach for the stars. He told me what he wanted to make and I was a little sceptical. . . .Boy was I wrong! Check out his Eagle Going After a Rabbit Behind a Rock!!!

In Honor of Women's Day

We have much to celebrate and remember today but we also have much to do as women to help other women around the world.

Here is a link to an article in the Huffington Post that brings me to tears. It's written by Ashley Judd who is now serving on the board of directors for the Global Health Organization.

My friend Michelle hosted the most darling Little Man Party for her little man who just turned 2. We had a lovely time even if you can't recognize us in the photo above!

Today I was needing to reacquaint myself with myself and my female power. Lately I've been struggling to balance mothering with work and with time I need to be alone and feel calm. As I was looking for some feminist quotes I found this site: http://www.quotegarden.com/feminism.html

Men are taught to apologize for their weaknesses, women for their strengths. ~Lois Wyse

I do not wish them to have power over men, but over themselves. ~Mary Wollstonecraft

There is a special place in hell for women who do not help other women. ~Madeleine K. Albright

To tell a woman everything she may not do is to tell her what she can do. ~Spanish Proverb

I would have girls regard themselves not as adjectives but as nouns. ~Elizabeth Cady Stanton, "Our Girls"

I can't be a rose in any man's lapel. ~Margaret Trudeau

Nobody objects to a woman being a good writer or sculptor or geneticist if at the same time she manages to be a good wife, a good mother, good-looking, good-tempered, well-dressed, well-groomed, and unaggressive. ~Marya Mannes

Young wives are the leading asset of corporate power. They want the suburbs, a house, a settled life, and respectability. They want society to see that they have exchanged themselves for something of value. ~Ralph Nader

I didn't want to be a boy, ever, but I was outraged that his height and intelligence were graces for him and gaucheries for me. ~Jane Rule

Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels. ~Faith Whittlesey

Never let the hand you hold, hold you down. ~Author Unknown

I first read this last one while I was in Scotland. My friend had it hanging on her fridge and we would laugh about it. . . Scary. Ignorance. So much. . .where do I even start.

[Feminism is] a socialist, anti-family, political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians. ~Pat Robertson

Scene: Soren and Dahlia are in the family room and I'm in the kitchen.
Soren: Does anyone have any spears?

Scene: Just after dinner Soren starts a conversation.

Soren: Mom, do you like to sit up in bed sometimes?

Me: Yeah.

Soren: They have these beds that fold up. . .

We didn't have TV for 3 and a half years and now it is so funny to see the power of advertisements and commercials through the mind of my son who hasn't been exposed to it before (and, let's face it, it's also alarming). He gets so excited to tell me what new thing he sees that I might like. He's so sincere about it.

My friend Claire's little girl is amazing. Here's a post to explain my sentiments. She is so gorgeous and this post just makes me happiness and joy and smiles.

I heart her hair with all my heart! I just had to share the joy.

Chocolate Cheesecake and more. . .

La Torta

Toffee Time

Le mie Bambine

. . .and the most wonderfully scented cinnamon ornaments that Soren made with his Grandma Pat.

Adesso devo dormire. Buona notte. Zzzzzzz.

The Snow Came Early